The Independence Day function attended by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Hansi on Saturday coincided with violent clashes between police and protesters, in which about six police personnel, including Hansi SP Vinod Kumar, and several protesters were injured.The Hansi SP, accompanied by some cops, some of whom were in plain clothes, was seen throwing stones at protesters. The SP suffered a minor injury to his wrist and was seen with it bandaged with a handkerchief. Later, he said protesters were pelting stones and the police responded in kind to keep them at bay.Related News: Hisar police PRO objects to woman Congress leader’s social media post about Hansi clashesProtesters, who had announced they would oppose the CM’s programme to register their dissent over the alleged failure of police to arrest the main accused in the murder of dairy operator Jeevan Kundu, had gathered at various places in the town early in the morning. The police were deployed in large numbers and tried to stop them from proceeding towards the venue of the Independence Day function at Government College.When protesters, who came riding tractors and in groups on foot towards the college, were stopped by police, they pelted stones. The cops resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. Later, police cordoned off the college and the CM’s programme concluded without further disruption.The Hansi police registered an FIR under Sections 189, 190, 191, 109(1), 121, 152, 223, 132, 221, 351(3) of the BNS and Section 3 of the PDPP Act against about 150-200 protesters, including farmer leaders Suresh Koth, Shamsher Nambardar, Roshanlal Pabra, Narender Kundu, Ramphal, Amarjeet Kundu, Ajit Punia, and Ramkesh.The clashes and the police action drew criticism from various quarters. Congress MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja, visited the family of the victim, Jeevan Kundu, to console them and raised questions about police functioning, pointing out that the main accused had not been arrested even after 11 days. Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepender Hooda, also condemned the lathicharge in Hansi. Former Deputy CM and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala said “independence has lost meaning when police unleash atrocities on people demanding the arrest of an accused in a murder case.”Notably, activists, mostly belonging to farmer organizations, had announced the protest during the CM’s programme in Hansi, alleging that police had failed to arrest the main accused, Ramesh Sharma, in the Jeevan Kundu murder case. Kundu was allegedly beaten by his neighbour Sharma and his aides on August 4 when he was going to dispose of garbage early in the morning. There had reportedly been enmity between the two families for several months.